Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-05-14
THE MARX OF CAIN.


1.-THE Mark Of CAIN" is the title of
recent work of fiction by Mr. Andrew
Lang. The scene of the story is laid in
England, but it turns entirely upon the
sbart, a tribal mark, or brand of the
Arabs of the Red Sea. Biblical scholars
will remember that in the patriarchal
story of Cain, the institution of
blood revenge is connected with a
certain 'mark" which Jehovah appoints
TO Cain. Mr.. Lang assumes that that
this old patriachal brand is the same
still in use among the Red Sea Arabs,
and hence christens his story "The
Mark of Cain" Mr.. Richard Johnson is
n Salesman" or holder Of small
landed property in the north of England.
He has one son, a ne'er-do-weel. This
son disappears from the old home, and
enters upon course of worldwide
wanderings. Coal is discovered upon the
Johnson lands, and the old man becomes
immensely wealthy. He wishes to
see his only son, now the heir Of great
riches, before he dies. All attempts to
find the wanderer are in vain however,
and the father dies, leaving his wealth
to his son, or his sons heirs. And now
comes on the scene Mr.. Thomas Cranley,
dissolute and ruined scion of the Eng
lish aristocracy. The country seat of
the Cranley family is in the neighbor-
hood of the Johnson property, and Gran
ley is familiar with all of the circum-
stances of the case. By the merest
chance Cranley discovers the missing
heir in London, in the most
abject poverty, and a slave to
strong drink. johnson, the heir, has one
child, girl of seventeen years. Cranley
conceives the diabolical plan of murder
ing the father and daughter, assuming
the fathers identity, and claiming the
Johnson wealth. Accordingly he estab-
fishes an intimacy with Johnson. Ascer-
tains the course of his various wander
ings, and generally familiarizes himself
with the past life of his victim. In the
printed descriptions of Johnson circulated
with a view to his discovery by the
Johnson family lawyer, it is men
toned that the man wanted
has certain curious tattoo marks
on his body. Cranley prevails on Johnson
TO duplicate these tattoo marks on his
(Cranley's) body, and then murders him.
After, (as he supposes) disposing Of the
girl also, Cranley presents himself as the
missing heir. But retribution had been
been dogging the steps OF the heartless
assassin. A young London doctor
named Barton, had been one of those
who found the body of the murdered
Johnson, which Cranley had placed in
an open cart in a London stable
yard, on bitter cold night,
thus creating the supposition that
Johnson had frozen to death
during drunken spree. DIR. Bar
ton, however, was not satisfied. Certain
peculiarities in the case excited his
suspicious, and he began a quiet but
thorough investigation. The doctor was
an enthusiast on the subject of tattooing,
and had made it study. He recognized
all Of the tattoo marks on the body of
johnson. Among others the "Mark Of
Cain" used by the Red Sea Arabs, He
had also noticed on the dead
body, certain tattoo marks still
unhealed. These marks were between
the shoulders, and could not possibly
have been made by Johnson himself.
Peculiar coloring in these marks also
attracted the DOCTORS attention, and on
close examination he found this coloring
was the result of the use of 10ooraR, or
arrow-poison of the Macoushi Indians of
Guiana. in short, the doctor was on the
right track, and succeeded in unearthing
the whole conspiracy. He was present
when Mr. Cranley was subjected to an
examination in support of his claim to
the identity of the missing heir, and
Mr. Lang makes the "mark of Cain"
the vehicle for dramatic denunciation
and exposure of the crime. On the trial
it was proved that Cranley, after under
going the tattooing operation at the
hands of Johnson, had pursuaded John
son to let him add another mark to his
Johnson's) person, and had then ap-
piled the deadly Indian poison which
had slain the victim. The daughter of
Johnson escapes the well spread snares
oi Cranley, and enters upon her inheri-
lance as Mrs. DR.. Barton. The plot is
strong and well developed. 'The Mark
OF Gains is a very readable hoo,